Laois County Childcare Committee CLG

19/06/2026

Have Your Say on Childminding

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley - TD, has today launched “Let’s Talk Childminding”, a public consultation on Ireland’s new childminding regulations.

The consultation will help review regulations introduced in September 2024, which allow childminders to register with Tusla and join the National Childcare Scheme, giving families access to financial supports.

A transition period is in place until September 2027, after which registration will become mandatory.

Read the full press release here; https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/press-releases/minister-foley-launches-public-consultation-on-review-of-childminding-regulations/

19/06/2026

☀️ Little Stars Montessori School Summer Camp ☀️

We are delighted to announce that bookings are now open for our Little Stars Summer Camp, running from June 29th to July 24th.

Our summer camp offers a fun-filled programme of play, creativity, exploration, friendship and learning in a safe and nurturing environment. The camp is open to children aged 3 to 6 years, and NCS funding is applicable for eligible families.
So if you would like to book your child or a sibling into our summer camp, please speak with Margaret or Amy as soon as possible. We would be happy to discuss availability and support families in accessing the NCS Scheme where applicable.

📞 057-8662149
📞 087-3350733
📧 [email protected]

We look forward to a summer full of fun.
Laois People Little Stars Montessori Kilminchy Laois County Childcare Committee CLG LaoisToday Leinster Express / Laois Live Laois Nationalist
⭐🌈🌞

19/06/2026

🌟 Join the Little Treasures Team! 🌟

Little Treasures is currently recruiting. For full details on the position and application process, please see the poster below.

Applications are now open.

10/06/2026

Participating in the National Childhood Network’s "Stay and Play" session for International Day of Play is an incredible opportunity for early years settings to champion every child's fundamental right to play.

By opening your doors to families, you directly build vital partnerships between parents and practitioners while fostering a welcoming sense of community belonging. This global event promotes the theme "Protect Play, Protect Childhood", highlighting how unstructured, child-led learning acts as the cornerstone for cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional growth.

It allows your service to proudly showcase its high-quality, play-based pedagogy while aligning with national quality frameworks like Aistear, Síolta and EDI/inclusion and diversity. Ultimately, hosting a session is a joyful way to advocate for screen-free exploration, build lifelong learning foundations, and demonstrate the invaluable impact your educators make daily in children's lives.

Please join with NCN and celebrate play!

05/06/2026

Our upcoming 'Communities of Professional Practice' meeting on Tuesday the 9th of June will focus on the topic of 'Reflective Practice'.

During this meeting, we will draw on our knowledge from existing frameworks and models to discuss and reflect on your practice as early years educators. Participants will be encouraged to chat freely about this topic throughout our meeting, offering your own insights, ideas, and experiences, and hopefully creating a real sense of community among service providers, managers, and educators in Laois.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Faye via email [email protected], or phone 0578661029 / 0868254651.

04/06/2026

The first stage of Programme Readiness for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme 2026/2027 is now available for services to complete on the Early Years Hive.

Please note, Core Funding 2026/2027 will be available soon. Further details will be posted on the Early Years Hive.

04/06/2026

Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley today announced the details of the new maximum fee caps for early learning and childcare services participating in Core Funding. The new maximum fee caps will lower the maximum fees that can be charged by new and existing early learning and childcare services receiving Core Funding from the state.

Key updates include:
Introduction of new maximum fee caps, reducing the cost of a full-time place to €183.70 per week cost for a typical full day place of 45 hours per week.

€480 million investment in Core Funding for 2026/2027

Additional funding to support providers and improve pay for early years educators, subject to negotiations at the Joint Labour Committee.

29/05/2026

Timahoe Tots are now recruiting for the following positions:

(1) Room leader- full time position (8am to 5pm). QQI Level 6 minimum.

(2)Early years educator/Childcare Assistant - full time position (8am to 5pm). QQI Level 5 minimum.

(3)Afterschool Assistant- term time position(starting September). Approx 15-20hrs per week (1.30-5pm)

We are looking for bubbly, patient and good communicators with a caring nature to join our team.
Apply by emailing your cv to: [email protected]

25/05/2026